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Fathers & Sons auto dealerships in West Springfield to expand with new Audi showroom on Memorial Avenue

Fathers & Sons.JPG

New Audi automobiles are seen outside the Fathers & Sons Collection at 989 Memorial Ave. in West Springfield. The Fathers & Sons Audi dealership will move to a new location that will be constructed on Memorial Avenue now occupied in part by the company's Volkswagen dealership.
(CHRISTOPHER GOUDREAU PHOTO)

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Planning Board voted last week to approve a 47,025-square foot $3 million Audi automotive sales showroom and service center along Memorial Avenue, an expansion for Fathers & Sons, a car dealership established in West Springfield in 1974.

Damon Cartelli, owner and general manager of Fathers & Sons, said he owns six properties along Memorial Avenue that will be demolished to build the new Audi facility.

The anticipated new Audi dealership will have 320 parking spaces and expand to include most of the block by Barnard Street, New Bridge Street and Memorial Avenue (view the site plans in the document at the end of this article).

“The plan is to raze all the buildings (owned by Fathers & Sons) that run from Barnard Street, across to the Golden Nozzle, and back to Bridge Street,” Cartelli said.

The Planning Board stated that with their vote approval, three conditions for the site plan must be met before construction begins:

A raised traffic island in the site plan must be lowered to accommodate adequate truck turning movements.

All lighting fixtures must be specified in the plans and be in compliance with city rules, which means reduced lighting at certain hours and minimized light near abutting properties.

All areas clarified as lawn must be seeded-grass areas, which will be used for water infiltration to prevent water building up in the road.

Fathers & Sons could also potentially build a second unspecified dealership out of the Memorial Avenue area, said Cartelli.

“Over the next three weeks, I’ll be interviewing and talking with builders on the projects to submit bids,” he said. “My hope is that I can get the finished details within the next 10 days and get that buttoned up.”

The project will be carried out in two phases, he said. The first phase will include the construction of a new service department, which will leave current showrooms and service departments operational.

"Kia needn't be moved; however, Volkswagen will work out of a trailer until construction is completed," he said.

Once the new facility is constructed, the current service and parts operations will move into the new building, he said. After that, nearby Fathers & Sons property will be razed to construct new showrooms.

The project is anticipated to be finished by the end of the calendar year, he said.

Fathers & Sons dealerships on Memorial Avenue include a Volkswagen dealership at 434 Memorial Ave., Kia of West Springfield at 468 Memorial Ave. and Fathers & Sons Collection at 989 Memorial Ave., which includes the current Audi facility as well as Porsche and Volvo showrooms and service centers.

“Brand new facilities will certainly draw attention to Memorial and hopefully get some more traffic and customer visits for us and anyone else on the street,” Cartelli said.